December 9, 2021
Shared Governance
Can you explain what shared governance means? You may have an intuitive, conceptual understanding of this principle, if not a formal definition, but today I am sharing with you a resource that will shed much more light and detail on this concept - The Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Board of Directors Statement on Shared Governance.
"Effective shared governance strengthens an institution by serving as a vehicle for necessary change. Strong shared governance does not diminish governing board accountability, but rather informs important decisions. A board’s
commitment to the value and practice of shared governance bears fruit for the institution in the form of mutual trust in challenging times, support for innovation, and shared commitment to goals for building a stronger future. It facilitates a culture that welcomes input, broadens commitment, and fosters creative ideas.
Effective shared governance, focused on open communication, shared responsibility, a commitment to accountability, and alignment of institutional priorities, is broadly seen as advantageous but is less commonly achieved."
AGB Principles of Shared Governance
- Boards should commit to ensuring a broad understanding of shared governance and the value it offers an institution or system.
- For shared governance to work, it must be based on a culture of meaningful engagement.
- Shared governance requires a consistent commitment by institutional and board leaders.
- Institutional policies that define shared governance should be reviewed periodically to ensure their currency and applicability.
The document not only explains each of these principles and how to achieve them, but ends with a useful series of questions that boards can ask of itself to help further its implementation of shared governance practices.
Upcoming ISCA Events
Thursday, December 9
Tuesday, January 11
Presented by Sara Schwartz, Schwartz Hannum PC
